Fish Tank Photography questions

[tcy81]

Hi all,

Would like to ask, when taking photos of your fish tank/aquascape.
Do you use diffuser or lightbox for your flash?

[Shadow]

if you do not have enough flash then lightbox will help alots

[tcy81]

If you have enough flash, do you use diffusers ? which type ?

Thanks

[luenny]

If I'm shooting fish and not the tank, I use nither.

[Shadow]

either way I use diffuser

[tcy81]

thanks all for the reply.
Will try out different settings.

[StanChung]

Bigger diffuser, softer light but less light.

I normally would use diffuser on the light for a bit more oomph. The whole diffuser thing works but it makes the setup look like a cloudy day situation. Not enough contrast IMO.

[Burnz]

Anyone consider the alternative of not necessarily using flash but extending exposure time as part of the overall concept? I remember coming across one of the IAPLC winning works in previous years which did just that, the fishes created a fuzzy patterns reminiscent of winds, and it caught the attention of the panels. It left quite an impression on me

[StanChung]

Does capture a different look but most prefer to see some water ripple frozen not to mention that $2 X100 tetras bought clearly. Long shutter speeds also make fine bubbles streak. Plants moving because of the ripples blur as well though not as severely. Overall, it's nice and artistic but it becomes a photography factor.

[Burnz]

Does capture a different look but most prefer to see some water ripple frozen not to mention that $2 X100 tetras bought clearly. Long shutter speeds also make fine bubbles streak. Plants moving because of the ripples blur as well though not as severely. Overall, it's nice and artistic but it becomes a photography factor.

That was way before frozen water ripple became popular and accssible to everyone I think it was one of the prizes in 2003

[StanChung]

I think the 2006 Grandchamp also featured blurred rummy noses but overall sharp shot.

[benny]

The technique used for the slightly blurry effect is aperture priority based slow second curtain sync. It freezes the image after a slightly longer exposure to fix the sharper final image. Often used for low light photography.

Cheers,

[Burnz]

The technique used for the slightly blurry effect is aperture priority based slow second curtain sync. It freezes the image after a slightly longer exposure to fix the sharper final image. Often used for low light photography.

Cheers,

Eh, to put it with respect to planted tank as subject, in layman terms does it mean flash first to capture sharp planted scape image, followed by slightly longer exposure to capture ambient light, which reduces faster moving fishes to blurry streaks?

[StanChung]

No, usually a rear curtain sync is preferred. Means, shutter open and expose a little for ambient[incl streaks] then a short burst of flash to complete the exposure and freeze the fish.

This is because the fish is usually moving forward, so you see the streak behind the fish. As for the old grandchamp entry with the green neons, that one didn't look like it used flash photography. This technique only works for bright shiny colourful fish IMO. Anything medium dark would look dirty. Black fish will make the bg. look smudged.

[Burnz]

No, usually a rear curtain sync is preferred. Means, shutter open and expose a little for ambient[incl streaks] then a short burst of flash to complete the exposure and freeze the fish.

This is because the fish is usually moving forward, so you see the streak behind the fish. As for the old grandchamp entry with the green neons, that one didn't look like it used flash photography. This technique only works for bright shiny colourful fish IMO. Anything medium dark would look dirty. Black fish will make the bg. look smudged.

Point noted Stan. Will need to experiment for consideration as part of concept for the next layout to come. Yes, I think the old grandchamp likely to open his shutter a tat longer, and likely no flash, though it looks underexposed, but good enough to capture the health of his plants.

[Shadow]

No, usually a rear curtain sync is preferred. Means, shutter open and expose a little for ambient[incl streaks] then a short burst of flash to complete the exposure and freeze the fish.

How do you do this? I mean how to set the flash to do this? Do you happen to know Canon flash setting

[StanChung]

Hi Robert, it's set in-camera.
It was invented way before red eye reduction if I'm not mistaken!
I think it would be together with the anti-red eye menu/knobs.
To check if it's the right setting, set the shutter[shutter priority] to 1sec with this setting on, your flash would fire ~1 second after you depress shutter. With your camera locked on a tripod of course.

Burns, I think he did a good job and he's a grand champ!

[Burnz]

Stan, no question he did well, still in my head 5 years from then, and still learning from him now lol. :lol

[Shadow]

link on full tank photography:

http://www.ximinasphotography.com/le...hniques_6.html